Anish Esteves

   It’s been 70 years since the Mahatma’s death and there is a lot of about his life and philosophy that one can learn. Mahatma Gandhi believed in Non-violence and Non-violent agitation. He also believed in communal harmony and abolition of the practice of untouchability. As the world is poised to celebrate his 150th Birth anniversary later this year, his core beliefs like tolerance, harmony and non-violence remain far from reality. If Gandhi was alive today he would not have liked the communal violence, intolerance, lynching and disharmony between communities that we see in India today. India has witnessed tremendous change in the past few decades, but this change has not been in the direction that Gandhi wanted.   

   Gandhi freed India from British Rule without any violence, why can’t we free India from intolerance, violence and lynchings? 

   With Mamata Banerjee and Mayawati becoming the rallying points for opposition unity in the country, the induction of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as General Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh unit of the Congress Party is significant at this point of time. Long been relegated to the margins in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress has been missing a strong face in the state. With Priyanka, the party hopes to finally fill that gap. A tough road awaits Gandhi as she takes up this new assignment. Game On!!!